My Reflection

I chose to do my portfolio on the local Japanese American community due to my lack of knowledge regarding their community. This cultural study assignment has opened up new perspectives for me not only as a teacher, but as a person in terms of personal self-growth and experience. From the beginning of this assignment till writing this final reflection, I was able to reach out of my comfort zone and explore more than what I usually do for assignments.

When I first started my journey I felt I was invading a close-knit, historical community. I walked around Japantown a few times and read a variety of newspaper articles about its community members. Even though I had good intentions, I still felt like I was putting the Japanese American community on display. I walked through Japantown feeling completely separated from the actual community because I was on a mission to learn as much as I could about the community and once that mission was completed I would have no reason to return. So this assignment has given me the opportunity to really dig into Japantown’s enriched history, and find out all the wonderful experiences that it has to offer. Before, I thought Japantown was just an abundant of Japanese descent people living in one place, but obviously it’s more than that.

I have lived in San Jose for 12 years and had not stepped foot into Japantown until this report. At first, I was overwhelmed by the general information I was finding about their community and did not gain an appreciation for the community until I conducted my interviews with Arlene Damron and Machiko Kyoya. From the stories they had shared with me, I was able to gain a better understanding on what it was like to grow up as a Japanese American. I have never had a personal private conversation with someone before who was critically involved in any major historical events in America. Both of their stories were simply amazing and inspiring. Arlene’s grandfather and father had greatly sacrificed for their families and their unselfishness, dedication and passion demonstrations motivated me to do more for my own culture especially In the Bay Area. Anyone can make a difference if they have the right intentions and make the effort.

What I learned from this project is that personal connections can teach a student more information about a community than any literature. I have also learned how to approach a cultural project in a way that I become an active participant in and not a spectator. More importantly, I have learned how to adopt this project into my own future classroom where my students can, if they are willing to present one aspect (food, songs, games, crafts) of their own culture to the class.

As a future teacher, it is important to understand that every student is unique with their different culture and background. It is my duty to explore their stories and know where they’re coming from so I can better provide the education that is more effective in their learning. Just like what’s mentioned in this reflection, I need to make an extra effort to search outside of the circle to find more answers so I can make positive influences in the students lives. If that’s accomplished, I believe I have fulfilled one of the many important purposes as a teacher.

My Interview with Machiko Kyoya

On Thursday, April 15, I met with Machiko Kyoya in the coffee shop in the King library called On Fourth: a novel café. We had a short lunch together while I was conducting my interview. I learned a lot about the Japanese culture and I have become very proud of gaining my new knowledge.

Machiko initially came to the United States in 1969. She was the only one in her family who came and stayed in America. The rest of her family is still in Japan. She currently works in the human resources department for Sunwize technology in downtown San Jose.

I asked her to compare the old lifestyle in Japan to the new one here in the United States. She told me that Japan’s public transportation is very developed and that it is very easy for the general public to get around without having a car. Here the average American people has their own car parked in the garage and it is very convenient to get around without making a great effort. As a result, things are much more convenient here in terms of transportation.

In Japan, the culture is connected to the seasons. In Japan there are 4 seasons where as here in California we only have 2 seasons. The Japanese are closely connected to the seasons where they are very much aware of their surroundings in terms of nature. Here in the United States people are not really in tune with the seasons and nature. They are into things like cars, houses and cloths. In America, people are more materialistic.

She now lives in San Jose and did go through many struggles to get to the comfortable lifestyle she is currently in. Machiko explained that everyday was a challenge for her and that it took her a while to catch on and to understand the discrimination she was dealing with. For example, when she first came to America and had started to work, people would automatically assume that she had come from Hawaii without asking her. Since in the 70’s there were not a lot of Asians in her community, she thought that at that time the general public thought all Asians came from Hawaii. Machiko did not like being stereotyped and was not being looked at as an individual. She felt that the general public was not educated and did not know anything about other cultures. “You can look Asian, but every single person has their own home and are not all the same”.

Next, I asked her what she thought the future of the Japanese Americans look like? Machiko replied that since the internment experience, Japanese people felt that being isolated, like forming their own community somewhere and living in that community has repressed their connections to the outside world. She does not think that it was a very good idea. Therefore, the Japanese have made a lot of efforts to become politicians. They have sent many representatives to congress to really work within the government, inside out instead of outside in. They have become very successful in their positions. Norm Mineta and Hawaii’s Senator Daniel K. Inouye are just a few people sent in the government with a purpose of really affecting the legislation and laws that affect the Japanese people. There has been a lot of change in that area and feel as if our future is very bright.

At the same time they are very interested in educating their sons and daughters. So their children have moved out of their small community into a much more diverse culture. Many Japanese have married outside of their race and have become multicultural. She believes that it will be very difficult for the new generation Japanese to maintain their real culture. When a Japanese person marries outside of their culture, and is not living in their traditional community, it makes it hard for them to be able to retain and preserve their cultural values. In the future, many Japanese people will become more and more diluted into other cultures and will forget their own.

As a Japanese American, she has married outside of her race and still to this day has not taken her husbands last name. She believes that the values she possess, her individuality, the way she looks and thinks are all influenced by her Japanese culture. Although she is married, she still likes to be her own person and likes to retain her own identity as an individual. Her culture is embodied into her name and does not want to be integrated into other cultures like everyone else. As a result, just because she lives here in America, it does not mean that she has to do everything by the American culture. Machiko does not want to be integrated therefore she has not taken her husbands last name.

As a mother of two culturally diverse children, she has made sure that they are still connected to their Japanese heritage.

The most enjoyable part of my interview was learning about the importance of the cherry blossom tree. Since the Japanese culture is connected to nature so much, the cherry blossom tree signifies the coming of spring. The way the tree blooms is connected to the life cycle. It blooms very quickly and the petals get blown away very quickly. Machiko explained, “In our culture the cherry blossom shows our way of living and dying.” When the petals are blooming, they are not resistant to anything and do not hang on to the tree, they are not ugly, they do not fight or go against nature and are very fragile, then the petals are blown away. In the Japanese culture, it is the way they view life. While you are living in this life it is important the way you conduct yourself. It is just as important that when you die, you should be able to pass on your goodness and identity to the next generation. “The petals on the cherry blossom tree signify the beginning of life till the end of life. The petals just go with the flow just like the way life takes you.”

(Evidence of the interview: Mrs. Machiko Kyoya can be reached at this number (408) 510-5176 or 274-2701 and I also have our conversation recorded)

My Interview with Arlene Damron

On Wednesday April 14^th I met Mrs. Damron at her specialty shop store Nichi Bei Bussan located on 140 Jackson st. in Japantown, San Jose. When I initially arrived I was amazed at the different things that were being sold there. I was introduced to a new culture just by observing the unique items on the shelves. There were different books sold that are based on different subjects. Nichi Bei Bussan is like a miniature version of the Macy’s department store. Instead they sold cultural clothing such as the kimono, martial arts uniforms and gear, bedding, art supplies, fabrics, Japanese figurines, and small nick-nacks. It was very interesting to see the cultural items that were being sold there. In the back of the store there is a small section devoted to the history of how the store was created. There are many newspaper articles and family pictures in frames that show the different generations who were behind the creation and start up of Nichi Bei Bussan.

Mrs. Damron is Japanese American and is the second generation born outside of Japan. She is distinguished as a member of the Sansei (second) generation. She was born in a horses stable in one of the ten internment camps, Topaz Relocation Center in Utah during World War II. Her family was one of the first internees who were moved in September 11, 1942. She explained that her grandfather traveled to America by boat from Nakano, Japan. The reason for his move to America was because he was the middle born child and was not going to inherit the family merchant business. Therefore, he came to America to see what opportunities existed here for him.

Before the turn of the century he founded Nichi Bei Bussan in 1902 in San Francisco. Her grandfather went into business with American suppliers. Japanese people would come in the store, fresh off the boat and wearing their kimonos and he would send them out the door wearing western cloths.

Mrs. Damron’s father, Masaharu Dave Tatsuno, who later inherited the business attended and graduated from Berkley University in 1936 majoring in business.

There was a photo of Mrs. Damron’s father Dave and her oldest brother displayed at the store. Dave and her brother who was two at the time held a hand lettered sign saying, “Evacuation Sale” because her father had to close the businesses doors. Now a copy of this photo is on a doorway at the Smithsonian Museum in the Japanese American exhibit.

Her father tried to sell everything because they did not have enough time before being sent to the camps. The items that they were not able to sell were put in storage at a home that they owned at that time.

At the time when her family was living in the camp, her father, Dave secretly filmed life in the camp with an 8-millimeter camera. He filmed daily life, church services, people gardening and birthday celebrations. He hid it in a shoebox, taking it out only when guards were not looking. She mentioned to me that watching the 48-minute silent film was the only memory that stands out in her mind about those dark times. In 1996 the Library of Congress placed “Topaz” on its National Film Registry to preserve its rich culture and history. It is now part of the permanent collection at the Japanese American Museum in Los Angeles.

After the internment camps, Dave decided to reopen Nichi Bei Bussan in San Francisco. Since they no longer had the leased building, he decided to jack up a house and build the store from scratch underneath in 1946. They decided to close that store due to personal reasons and moved to their San Jose location, where they are currently located in.

Masaharu Dave Tatsuno who was and is still well known in the Bay Area Nikkei community for operating the Nichi Bei Bussan stores in San Jose and San Francisco, California was born in 1913 and passed away in January 2006 at the age of 92.

Mrs. Damron see’s the whole journey of the internment camps as a “testament to the enduring spirit of Japanese” where in Japanese it is called, “Shegata Ganie”. Shegata Ganie is like a cultural saying which means that some things can’t be helped, you just need to go with it, and you need to give the best to whatever life gives you. She shared with me that her grandfather told her father just before they were going to the internment camps to treat it as a great adventure. “You can’t always determine what comes into your life but you can certainly decide how you are going to respond to it, and that makes all the difference in your life.”

On the back of the photo it says: "To Eleanor Gerard from the Tatsuno Family Topaz Jan 1945" Standing: Dave Tatsuno, who was the head of the co-op, his wife, Alice Okada Tatsuno; Dave's three children, Sheldon, Arlene and Rodney; and his father, Shojiro Tatsuno. Dave began a branch of the YMCA at Topaz.

http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/Topaz&CISOPTR=116&REC=9

(Evidence of the interview: Mrs. Arlene Damron can be reached at her store number (408) 294-8048 and I also have the conversation recorded)

Norman Y. Mineta

Born from immigrant parents, Norman Yoshio Mineta found himself growing up in the Heart Mountain Japanese internment camp in Wyoming. As a teenager, Mr. Mineta left the internment camp and returned home to San Jose to finish his education. He graduated in 1953 from UC Berkley with a degree in Business and quickly found himself serving as an intelligence officer for the U.S Army later that year.

From 1967 to 1971 Mr. Mineta served as a council member for the City of San Jose and progressed to be San Jose’s first Asian American Mayor in 1971. During his term as mayor, Mr. Mineta focused on public transportation issues throughout the city hoping to put the power of making decisions over transportation back into the local government.

After serving the City of San Jose, Mr. Mineta represented Silicon Valley on a greater scale in the House of Representatives between 1975-1995. Mineta had a broad legislative agenda that included major projects in the areas of economic development, science and technology policy, trade, transportation, the environment, intelligence, the budget and civil rights. It was at this time when he co-founded the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and served as its first chair. The creation of the caucus was Mr. Mineta’s method of ensuring that the voices of the Asian and Pacific Islander communities were heard and taken into consideration. More importantly, the caucus was to enhance the civic abilities of the API community, regardless of their race or citizenship.

While serving in Congress, Mr. Mineta was the power behind the H.R. 442. The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 officially apologized for the social and political injustices that occurred to the Japanese community. This served as an important moment for the Japanese community because it forced the government to recognize its unlawful acts towards people of color, and held them accountable.

As Secretary of Transportation, under the George W. Bush Administration, Mr. Mineta was a key factor to ending racial profiling at airports following the 9/11 attack. In September 2001, he sent a letter to all U.S. airlines forbidding them from racial profiling or discrimination against any passengers based on their race, color, national or ethnic background or religion. In November 2001, San Jose International Airport was renamed after Norman Yoshio Mineta because of his great efforts.

Sources: Retrieved April 1, 2010 from

www.asianamerican.net/bios/Mineta-Norman.html

www.dot.gov/affairs/mineta.htm

www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/min0bio-1

Congressman Mike Honda

Congressman Mike Honda was born in California and spent his early childhood in a Japanese internment camp in Colorado. After moving to California in 1953, his family became strawberry sharecroppers in Blossom Valley in San Jose. Mike advanced his way through education by earning a Master’s degree in Education. For 20 years, Mike worked as a science teacher and later took on the position as a principal at two public schools and also conducted educational research at Stanford University.

In 1981, Mr. Honda was the first Asian American who won his election to be on the school board for the San Jose Unified School District. He was later elected in 1990 to the Santa Clara CountyBoard of Supervisors.

In 2000, Mr. Honda was elected to the House of Representatives where he serves on the Appropriations Committee. He focused on directing the counties funds to critical areas such as access to affordable health care, health care for veterans, law enforcement and the safety of our neighborhoods as well as recovery from natural disasters.

As a former teacher and principal he understands the current economic imbalance within the educational system. He reintroduced The Educational Opportunity and Equity Commission Act, (H.R. 1758). This identified solutions and eliminates inequitable distribution of resources among the school system. This bill gathered public opinions as to how the government could improve the educational needs in the public school system and to create equity that will meet the needs of each student.

Another important piece of legislation that Mike Honda reintroduced the Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Act of 2009, (H.R. 2710) which promotes collaboration between state and federal government to improve STEM education. Once this bill was passed it allows the government to appoint a Secretary of STEM Education, who will be responsible for analyzing current STEM programs and to develop a STEM grant program as well.

Mike Honda is now the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPC). Keeping the past goals of the caucus, Mr. Honda has expanded the issues the organization takes on. The caucus focuses on hate crimes, advocates for more educational opportunities, and for more legal protection for immigrants and refugees.

Sources: Retrieved April 4, 2010 from http://honda.house.gov/

Wesley Methodist Church

In 1895 a group of first generation Japanese-Americans Christians, known as the Issei joined together based on their devotion to the Christian God. They later erected their first church, the Wesley Methodist Church, in 1913 as a way to nurture each other in Christian love. At this church many resources were made available for local community members, such as church school for children, social networkds for adults, and a safe place for Japanese Americans who were not welcomed into mainstream culture.

Since its creation, the Wesley Methodist Church had undergone a few aesthetic changes such as the Chapel, built in 1952, and the creation of the Fellowship Hall created later in 1974. These changes occurred to help accommodate the Church’s fast growing membership. In the Fellowship Hall, organizations such as Boy and Girls Scout Troops, Sunday school for children, Adult Bible Study groups, and Men and Women Methodist groups are sponsored by the church and actively use the hall today. Although some of these programs are not usually identified with religion, specifically the Boy and Girls Scout troops, they were created with the goal of creating leadership opportunities, develop team working skills, and to provide opportunities for participants to become better citizens through improving the lives of others.

Sources retrieved on April 3, 2010 from: http://www.wesleysj.net/

Japanese American Community Resource Organization (JACRO)

The Japanese American Community resource organization is a non-profit organization that provides resources and support for the Japanese American community. They provide support and resources, support and conduct non-partisan reserch, and have educational and informational activities for the Japanese American community. They also want to preserve the special culture and historical heritage that the Japanese Americans have strived to keep for so long. The organizations have obtained three scholarships programs for high school seniors and continuing college students.

1. The Ed Kawazoe / Helen Tao Memorial Fund is offering three awards to 2007 high school graduates and continuing college students in Silicon Valley. This will be rewarded to the three people who show activism and leadership and have demonstrated their commitment to help the Asian Pacific American community of Silicon Valley.

2. The Ed Iwasaki Memorial Fund will offer two $500 dollar scholarships to Japanese American to 2007 high school seniors with a 3.5 or higher GPA who have shown leadership qualities and high academic achievements.

3. Community Resource Organization of Silicon Valley is offering one $500 scholarship to 2007 high school graduates in the San Francisco Bay Area. These winners must have shown their participation in their heritage and future drive of the Japanese American community.

Sources: Google - public data. (n.d.). Google. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from http://www.jacro.org/index.html

Japanese American Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley (JACCSV)

This non-profit, volunteer organization in Silicon Valley helps support businesses, and promotes strong partnerships and economic growth. The Japanese American Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley understands the position and circumstances that the Japanese American businesses face. Therefore, they are partnered with Silicon Valley technology exchange, global marketing and its diverse culture. Becoming a member of this organization will help you with your business in many ways. They will refer your business to the right people who will be interested in your product. The organization offers a listing of other organizations that are members of the JACCSV, they offer business plan assistance, business counseling, financial loan assistance, economic assistance and will provide your companies special announcements through e-mail.

Sources: Google - public data. (n.d.). Google. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from www.jaccsv.com/index.html

SJSU awarding degrees to WWII internees

This is a picture of Nesei students who had attended San Jose State University.

Due to the internment camps during World War II 250 students were not able to continue their education. During the University-wide commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 29 San Jose State University and five other California State University campuses which are: Fresno, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Luis Obispo and Pomona are providing a list of 250 Nesei students honorary diplomas. They will be receiving special Honorary Bachelor of Humane Letters as part of the CSU’s Nisei Honorary Degree Project.

“By awarding these degrees, the California State University hopes to help heal the wounds of injustice suffered by these Japanese Americans, to honor their academic intentions and to welcome them back to the CSU as alumni,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed.

Some of these students have continued to make contributions to the Japanese community and to San Jose State University over the years but many of these students have either moved away or have changed their names because of marriage. Therefore, the Japanese American community organizations are helping to locate the former students to be able to celebrate.

The CSU systems are asking for help in contacting more alumni or the surviving families of past alumni who would be eligible in receiving this degree. I believe it is unfortunate that many families had to wait this long to receive what rightfully belonged to them.

Sources: Retrieved March 31, 2010, from

http://www.calstate.edu/PA/News/2010/release/nisei-students.shtml

The Spartan Daily Newspaper of San Jose State University

San Jose Japantown Today

Initially, most of the migrated workers and other emigrants from Japan established many communities called Japantown. In these communities many Japanese businesses were built along with the establishment of Buddhist churches and Japanese Christian churches . Japanese-language schools flourished, the first being established in 1902. By the 1930s, virtually every Japanese American community had its own nihongakko (language school) operated by a church or association where the students learned to speak English.

During the internment many of the hard earned businesses built up over many years had to be liquidated in a matter of weeks. The owners were told to sell everything they had in stock with devastating losses. Also many shattered careers could not be resumed because of the time that had past from the time of the internment camps until the time when everything finally reached a breaking point. By 1947, Japantown was rejuvenated with many reestablishment's of businesses and many families.

Japantown is defined as the commercial properties and businesses founded between First and Seventh Streets, both north and south sides of Taylor Streets and Jackson Street. Today, Japantown has diversified in many ways, for example, its members who live in the neighborhood as well as the businesses located throughout the small town have shown a great change by accepting other cultures into their own. Many of the local businesses located in Japantown are still owned and run by Japanese Americans and cater to this community, but since there has been a lot of diversity in the state of California especially in San Jose, there is a Mexican restaurant around the corner.

Located in the few blocks of Japantown are many services that are for the people who live in the community. There are many Japanese restaurants that serve traditional dishes, a Farmer's Market on Sunday mornings, grocery stores and traditional specialty shops.

picture of the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin

San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, which was established in 1902, sits in a Japanese garden, and is still a local favorite landmark. It is located on Fifth Street and is surrounded by many other community organizations. The Japanese Language school for children and adults, Lotus preschool, Okida Hall, a century old theater that is now the home of the San Jose Taiko drummers and a Aikido school, and the Japanese American Museum, which has many family histories, historical pictures, private memoirs and other unpublished documents on Japanese American history with a special focus on the Santa Clara Valley.

The Wesley Methodist Church offers several services for its members such as counseling in a variety of areas such as marriage, grief, and spiritual guidance. the Methodist Church is also in charge of the Commercial Street Inn, a family shelter. The shelter provides a safe living environment for families, clothing and job search help. The Church also provides a monthly shelter dinner at the beginning of each month. Volunteers are set up each month to come cook and serve the 30 families living within the shelter.

Many of Japantowns resources are sponsored by the churches; however, these services are not limited to the followers. People outside of these organizations are encouraged to utilize the available resources.

The community has many statues and plaques that are scattered throughout San Jose's Japantown and are used to demonstrate what had happened and how the community is still united today. These are pictures of the three sided monument in front of the Issei Memorial Building on North Fifth st. in Japantown, San Jose.

Diagram indicating Japanese American settlement in the United States

Sources: Google - public data. (n.d.). Google. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pctjapanese.png

THE FIRST IMMIGRANTS OUT OF JAPAN

From the year of 1853 to 1885, Japan restricted it’s foreigners from entering and it’s citizens from traveling abroad. After signing the Treaty of Kanagawa and fourteen years later in 1885 only students, traders, laborers and performers who were employed by another country were able to leave Japan. Nine years later more than 29,000 emigrants from the Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Hiroshima and Yamaguchi went to Hawaii and the United states. Many of the people who had migrated to the United States told stories to their families of the great opportunities that were available to them and as a result, many more Japanese families migrated to Hawaii and North America. These people were given assistance as to where and how they can go to to be able to emigrate with steamboats to Hololulu or San Francisco. Most of the Japanese workers were employed to farm and produce vegtables or fruits in the local orchards. This large community of Japanese workers and their families had started being segregated against.

In San Francisco the school boards decided to segregate its schools and began to separate only the Japanese students from having any interaction with the American children. They have endured other forms of discrimination in housing, shopping, dining and in recreational activities.

This is a picture of an anti-Japanese book

In 1908 President Roosevelt worked out an agreement with the Japanese government known as the Gentlemen’s Agreement. Initially, most of the workers were comprised of single men looking for employment and had to leave family and friends at home. The agreement stated that only the family members of the migrated workers or students who were still in Japan would be granted an American passport. So many wives and children of Japanese laborers were able to migrate to the United States. The arrival of the families had a great impact on the men who were living in the United States alone. As families they were trying to establish family run businesses, grocery stores, clothing stores and later opened a new community in a new environment called Japan town.

After 16 years of emigration, the migration of the Japanese population grew explosively. In 1921, the United States prohibit female immigration and made a marriage between Caucasians and Asians illegal in California. The United States government did this to disconnect any relationship that would have been formed in the Japanese community.

On December 7, 1941 the bombing of Pearl Harbor took place and the Japanese living in the United States quickly became the new enemy. Not only did it lead to the relocation of the Japanese communities on the West Coast, but they had to be placed in internment camps despite how long they had been living in the United States. They were forced to evacuate from their homes and businesses and enrolled into internments under Executive order 9066. There were many signs posted in Santa Clara county and as many as 10,000 Japanese Americans were relocated to camps far from their hometowns.

Aerial photo of Granada Center from the Water Tower- Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado. Photo by Joe McClelland, 6/20/1943

World War II became a turning point in generational control of Japanese American businesses, churches and community politics. It was not until December of 1944 when the internment policy was revoked.

Sources: Google - public data. (n.d.). Google. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/wwcod/granada.htm

http://brownvboard.org/brwnqurt/03-4/03-4a.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_American